Around the Block: Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City
by Utah Family Weekend Staff

Everyday places good for filling a few hours.

If being outside in freezing temperatures isn’t your thing, try visiting the Tracy Aviary, a Utah treasure for the past 70 years. A great family outing year-round, the facility features over 400 birds and 135 species, many of which are rare or endangered, in both indoor and outdoor environments.

The Aviary’s main exhibit is Destination Argentina!, an Argentine-style area that houses some of the birds native to this region, including parakeets, black-necked swans, guira cuckoos, and red-nested cardinals. To keep children even more engaged, we recommend that children can also test their searching skills with the scavenger hunt (click here to print). Bird shows and educational classes are also available, and through May 31, guests can stand side-by-side keepers and feed the pelican flock ($2). Finally, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily, the Avian Alcove indoor area has crafts, games, and story times for all children.

Next Saturday, March 21st, don’t miss the Aviary’s spring event, “Nothing but Nests.” In commemoration of spring’s arrival, and the return of the backyard birds you’ve missed during the winter, come and build your own nests (edible and otherwise) and enjoy the free flight bird show!

Visit tracyaviary.org for more details and to find out about more special events.

Save the Date: May 9-10 is the annual Urban Bird Festival. Activities include learning how to bird watch, making art, listening to festive music, eating, and watching the birds.

LDS Living 2009; Photo courtesy of the Tracy Aviary